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Feb 14, 2013 at 9:20 AM

This year’s dates and locations for five Sunday Parkways, the popular summertime events presented by the City of Portland and Kaiser Permanente, were announced today.

“Sunday Parkways events are a great opportunity to get to know your neighborhood and your city. Nancy and I have attended them. As family-friendly events go, these can’t be beat,” said Portland Mayor Charlie Hales.

The five dates and locations scheduled for Sunday Parkways 2013 are:

May 12 in East Portland;

June 23 in Northeast Portland;

July 28 in North Portland;

August 25 in Southeast Portland; and,

September 29 in Southwest Portland.

Sunday Parkways is a series of free community events opening the city's largest public space – its streets – for people to walk, bike, roll and discover active transportation. Estimates put total attendance at more than 100,000 annually. Residents and visitors say they come to enjoy the traffic-free loop of streets connecting parks and schools filled with activities, music and vendors. It’s safe, family-friendly and a chance to meet neighbors.

"Sunday Parkways is the perfect prescription for health: it’s fun, free and gets you and your family and friends up and moving and out and about on a Sunday," said Dr. Keith Bachman, a Kaiser Permanente internist. "As a doctor, I know that exercise is truly vital for health, which is why we ask about it at every visit along with blood pressure and heart rate. My family and I look forward to Sunday Parkways every year.”

Sunday Parkways takes place on one Sunday each month from May through September in a different area of the city. More information about Sunday Parkways is available at www.PortlandSundayParkways.org and by calling 503-823-7599.

Feb 19, 2013 at 1:02 PM

City expands Jeld-Wen Field Event District parking program boundaries

(PORTLAND, Ore.) – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced today that it is expanding the Jeld-Wen Field Event District parking program boundaries to provide more parking for event goers and reduce the impact on adjacent neighborhoods. The new event district boundaries will extend from the south side of West Burnside Street to Southwest Jefferson Street and from Southwest 18th Avenue down to but not including Southwest 12th Avenue. The expansion is necessary because the event district was parked virtually to full capacity during large events at the stadium.

“By expanding the event district down to 12th Avenue, we now manage an additional 182 on-street parking spaces for a total of 631 spaces available during authorized events at Jeld-Wen Field. This enables us to provide event goers more access while lessening the impact on adjacent neighborhoods,” said Robert Burchfield, City Traffic Engineer.

The event parking rate of $3.50 per hour at parking meters in the event district applies during event hours versus the non-event rate of $1.60 that applies all other hours. With the event district expansion, an additional 27 parking pay stations will be programmed to apply the event rate for a period of up to four hours, beginning 90 minutes before the start of the event.

City crews will begin installing new parking signs later this month and complete work by early March to coincide with the start of the Portland Timbers Major League Soccer schedule on March 3. Three signs per block will identify the event parking area and direct parkers to pay stations for event day and parking rate information.

“We are pleased with the effectiveness of the City’s event parking rate and the area parking permit program, which has helped make getting to and from Jeld-Wen Field efficient and fan-friendly,” said Ken Puckett, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Portland Timbers.

Feb 25, 2013 at 12:56 PM

Metro is currently upgrading the M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp on the Columbia River east of Northeast 33rd Avenue on Northeast Marine Drive. According to Metro’s website, “The project, which starts January 14, will improve parking, create on-site stormwater treatment and add permanent restrooms. The construction was timed to take place during the slow boating season to avoid hurting the salmon that migrate in early fall and spring.” Click here for more information from Metro.Across Marine Drive from the boat ramp, there is an informal parking area in the public right of way that is scheduled to close permanently, beginning this week. This area is used during busy times of year for overflow parking when the formal boat ramp lot is full. The situation presents safety hazards.Given the Transportation Bureau’s listing of Marine Drive as a High Crash Corridor, closing the informal lot is appropriate now that the formal boat ramp and lot are being upgraded.During construction, boat launch and parking are available at Metro’s Chinook Landing Marine Park, at 22300 NE Marine Drive, across from Blue Lake Regional Park.

Feb 26, 2013 at 11:26 AM

particularly the Transportation Bureau – on matters that encourage and enhance walking as a means of transportation, recreation, wellness and environmental enhancement.

The PAC has from nine to 15 members who represent a cross-section of Portlanders, including walking and mobility advocates, neighborhood activists, environmental design professionals and citizens-at-large.

The PAC meets the third Tuesday each month in the evening at City Hall. Members are appointed to a 4-year term. PAC member activities include, but are not limited to, reviewing and making recommendations on:

planning documents affecting pedestrians,

pedestrian projects,

projects with pedestrian facilities,

funding priorities for pedestrian-related projects,

activities of other jurisdictions that affect pedestrians in Portland, and

have an interest in promoting the use of walking for transportation and recreation, and

commit to attending monthly meetings and participating in the work of the committee.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2013.

The PAC membership application, information about the PAC and meeting times are available at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/34964.The PAC strongly encourages applicants to attend PAC meetings prior to the application deadline to see the PAC in action and understand its operations. Applications will be accepted by email, fax, postal mail or in-person.

Send completed applications to Pedestrian Coordinator April Bertelsen. She may be reached at 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Room 800, Portland, OR 97204 and april.bertelsen@portlandoregon.gov. Her phone is 503-823-6177 and fax is 503-823-7609.

Mar 19, 2013 at 8:56 AM

Police report 5 of the 11 traffic fatalities so far in 2013 involved driving under the influence

The number of people dying in traffic crashes on Portland streets this year is unacceptable according to Mayor Charlie Hales. In office for less than 80 days, the new mayor was alarmed that there have already been 11 traffic fatalities with five of those 11 involving driving under the influence.

“Every person who dies in a crash represents a family and community tragedy. So far in 2013, we’re averaging about one death a week. That’s unacceptable,” Hales said. “Leadership at the Transportation Bureau, Portland Police Bureau and I are alarmed that five people have lost their lives this year related to driving under the influence. Drive sober to save lives. Doing otherwise is illegal and reckless.”

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every day another 27 people die as a result of drunken driving crashes.

Lieutenant Chris Davis of the Portland Police Traffic Division said, “As we travel, the choices we make can significantly reduce the chances that tragedy will strike. None of us leave the house planning to be involved in a traffic crash. But, we all can slow down, stay sober and follow the rules of the road. Our officers have been way too busy this year and the Portland Police Traffic Division is asking all Portlanders to recommit to travel safely no matter if you are walking, bicycle riding or driving.”

“The Transportation Bureau is working diligently to make streets safer for everyone and raising awareness that drunk and distracted driving is a killer. We’re fortunate to have the men and women of the Portland Police Bureau and Mayor Hales committed to traffic safety as well,” Transportation Director John Widmer said.

In addition to talking about traffic fatalities, the Transportation Bureau and Police Bureau held three community meetings in the last month to get input on improving traffic safety. Meetings were held to make Northeast Sandy Boulevard, Burnside Street on both sides of the river and Northeast Glisan Street safer places for people to walk, bike, use transit and drive.

Burnside and Sandy are two of the 10 streets the bureau calls “High Crash Corridors.” Glisan Street was the location of the first pedestrian fatality of 2013. The High Crash Corridor program’s goal is to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and injuries where they are most prevalent.

Findings from the “Metro State of Safety Report” issued in April 2012 focused on major streets and high numbers of crashes. The report said arterial roadways comprise 59 percent of the region’s serious crashes, 67 percent of the serious pedestrian crashes and 52 percent of the serious bike crashes, while accounting for 40 percent of vehicle miles travel. That is why the City focuses safety funding toward these corridors through education, enforcement and engineering activities.

The report also said alcohol or drugs were a factor in 57 percent of fatal crashes.

The Portland Police Bureau partnered with transportation on these efforts, particularly through enforcement actions designed to educate drivers and pedestrians of crosswalk laws and cite those who break them. On January 23, police cited 12 people and warned two others for traffic safety violations at a crosswalk on Northeast Sandy Boulevard at Northeast 85th Avenue. And on February 26, police issued 27 citations in 90 minutes on at a crosswalk on West Burnside Street at Northwest 21st Place.